palter

Meaning

1. To talk insincerely; to prevaricate or equivocate in speech or actions.
2. To trifle.
3. To haggle.
4. To babble; to chatter.

Synonyms

prevaricate

equivocate

tergiversate

shift

beat around the bush

shuffle

haggle

dodge

elude

evade

fabricate

fib

fox

🦊

lie

mislead

niggle

piddle

quibble

shun

stall

trifle

bargain

tantalise tantalize

beguile

boggle

chaffer

deceive

decoy

delude

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈpɔːltə(ɹ)/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: *palter

In summary

Probably from Middle English *palter (“rag, trifle, worthless thing”), from Middle Low German palter (“rag, cloth”). More at paltry.